JagNation Draft Buzz - 03/04/08

Ed Thompson

03/04/2008

The Jaguars still don't appear to be satisfied, and with slot receiver/punt returner Dennis Northcutt due nearly $4 million in 2008 between salary and bonuses, the Jaguars appear to be looking toward the draft to possible replace the less than sure handed receiver. To find out who the Jaguars have been meeting with, click here...

With the Jaguars recent moves on the offensive side of the ball in free agency, they've added at lot of competition to the wide receiver position, and have created somewhat of a logjam.

Quiet, yet charismatic, Eddie Royal is one of the risers in this draft class as
scouts see more of him in person through his appearances at the Senior Bowl and
the Combine.

While the speedy returns specialist doesn't have prototypical height for an
NFL wideout at 5-foot-9 and may be stereotyped as a slot receiver, he opened
some eyes at the Combine when he placed sixth in the vertical jump with a
36.0-inch leap.

"They want a guy who can go up there and get the ball, so it was very
important for me to do well in the vertical jump," Royal said during an
exclusive interview with Scout.com that will be published this
week.

Expected to be a first-day selection that only includes two rounds this
April, Royal is a playmaker as a returns specialist, and it's helping him
tremendously as teams sort through the talent in this year's draft class.

"Instead of having two or three guys on the roster for a slot receiver,
punt returner, and kick returner; they can use me for all three," he said.
"That's definitely helping me out a lot.

"[Bears wide receiver] Devin Hester is certainly helping me out a lot.
He's showing how important a dangerous return man can be."

Royal's talent warranted eighteen formal interviews with coaches and GMs
while he was at the Combine. He told Scout.com that he met with the
Cowboys, Cardinals, Dolphins, Broncos, Titans, Colts, 49ers, Browns, Texans,
Falcons, Buccaneers, Packers, Jets, Jaguars, Saints, Bengals, Steelers, and the
Rams.

Tough to tackle: Xavier Omon was the top running back in Div II football in 2007 with 2,337
rushing yards while scoring an incredible 27 touchdowns for Northwest Missouri
State. A tough, physical runner who's hard to stop, Omon's the first running
back in NCAA history to run for more than 1,500 yards in four seasons. And he proved
he can take a pounding by carrying the ball more than 1,000 times over the span of his
last three collegiate seasons.

While he doesn't have the speed of some of the other backs in this draft
class, Omon should be catching the eye of NFL teams with an immediate need for a
back who can get the tough yards for his team,
shedding would-be tacklers or dragging them along while he fights for a few more
yards.

Following his performance at the Texas vs. The Nation Game, the Steelers
and the Buccaneers showed the strongest interest in him. And at the Combine, he
talked with the Buccaneers again, along with the Packers, 49ers, and
Seahawks.

Another step closer:Toledo offensive tackle John Greco &mdash
a likely third-round selection &mdash just finished performing at his pro day and now awaits his opportunities for private
workouts with NFL teams prior to the NFL Draft. "To be honest with you,
it's a little bit of a relief," he told Scout.com during an
exclusive interview. "Because everything I've been working so hard for is
in the books now."

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound tackle, who moved from right to left tackle when
current New England Patriots lineman Nick Kaczur graduated from Toledo, was
obviously pleased with his Pro Day results that improved on many of his marks
from a solid showing at the Combine.

"My 40 was better, both of my agility tests were better, my vertical was
better," he said. "I was just grateful that I was healthy so that I
could show the scouts that were there what I was really made of."

Greco met with the Chargers, Dolphins, Cowboys, Cardinals, Rams, Lions and
Colts at the Combine. Two of those teams &mdash the Colts and the Dolphins &mdash
were also at his pro day.

Falcons' Choice? Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice has
definitely gotten the attention of the Atlanta Falcons, who talked with him at
both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.

Choice rushed for 100 yards or more in nine games during the 2006 season,
setting a school record. And he finished tied for first place in career 100-yard
rushing games at Georgia Tech with 18. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound punishing,
inside runner is expected to be drafted in the early rounds of Day Two of the
NFL Draft after claiming the ACC rushing title for two consecutive seasons.